Tag: Derby County

Categories
football Sports News

DERBY COUNTY APPEAL POINTS DEDUCTION

Derby County’s administrators have made an appeal against their 12-points deduction to an independent panel, the EFL has said. The governing body handed Derby County the automatic punishment after Mel Morris placed the club into administration.

The statement read: “The Administrators at Derby County have lodged an appeal against the 12-point deduction imposed on the Club’s 2021/22 season total on 22 September 2021.

“As a consequence, this matter has been referred to an independent Arbitration panel who will consider representations from both parties before making a determination.

“At this current time the Club’s points total in the Championship table will remain unchanged.”

The BBC reports that the administrators will argue the club has received an unfair punishment as their severe financial troubles is a result of the COVID pandemic.

Wigan Athletic argued on the same grounds when they were put into administration last year. However, their appeal failed because Au Yueng, their former owner, bought the club during the pandemic and it was ruled he understood the financial situation of that time.

Mel Morris’ ownership ended in a devastating fashion after he announced the club was losing somewhere between £1.3 million and £1.5 million per month. They are believed to have an estimated debt of at least £50 million, with £20 million being owed to HMRC.

Given the circumstance, Derby feels the appeal is worthwhile due to their chances of survival rising. One financial disparity between the Championship and League One is that the second division receives £4 million extra in solidarity payments.

Categories
football Sports News

WAYNE ROONEY APOLOGISES AFTER HOTEL IMAGES WITH WOMEN EMERGE

Wayne Rooney has apologised to his family and Derby Football Club after images emerged on Sunday appearing to show the former England striker asleep in a hotel room surrounded by a group of young women.

“I made a mistake,” Derby manager Rooney told Sky Sports after the Championship club’s friendly against Real Betis on Wednesday.

“I went to a private party with two of my friends and from me, I’d like to apologise to my family and the club for the images which were going round and I want to move forward on this.

“I’m grateful to Derby County for giving me this opportunity to get this club back to where it belongs, and I’ll do everything in my power to make sure I do that.”

The images were circulated on Sunday, gaining attention on social media and appeared to show Rooney asleep with women beside him.

Cheshire Police had confirmed on Tuesday that they had dropped a complaint of blackmail made concerning the images.

Rooney continued: “It’s dealt with. I’m looking forward to moving forward and preparing for another game on Sunday.”

The Rams host Notts County in a friendly on Sunday ahead of their opening match of the Championship season on Saturday, August 7 against Huddersfield.

Categories
football Sports News

ROONEY’S DERBY COUNTY ESCAPE RELEGATION FROM THE CHAMPIONSHIP IN DRAMATIC FASHION

Wayne Rooney celebrated on Saturday as his Derby County side escaped relegation from the Championship in dramatic fashion.

Rooney’s Derby went into Saturday’s decisive clash against relegation rivals Sheffield Wednesday having lost their past six matches, but a 3-3 draw was enough for his side to stay up at the expense of Darren Moore’s men.

Derby were heading for the drop to League One — the third tier of English football — when Sheffield Wednesday took a 3-2 lead at Pride Park, but Martyn Waghorn’s penalty secured a point that ensured Derby’s survival.

Rooney’s men fell behind when Sam Hutchinson bundled the ball over the line for Wednesday in time added on at the end of the first half. Derby oared back in the second, however, with goals from Waghorn and Patrick Roberts, but Wednesday equalised through Callum Paterson in the 62nd minute before Julian Borner gave them the lead in the 69th.

Waghorn drew Derby level from the penalty spot 10 minutes later, but their chances of survival still looked bleak, with Rotherham leading in Cardiff thanks to Lewis Wing’s eighth- minute strike.

Marlon Pack’s clinical finish in the 88th minute levelled that match, however, and Derby survived a frantic final seven minutes, plus six minutes of added time, to cling on for the draw and stay in the second tier.

Former Manchester United and DC United striker Rooney took over temporarily in November 2020 after the Derby sacked then manager Phillip Cocu. After an impressive start, the 35-year-old officially ended his playing career in January, and penned a two-and-a-half year contract to become Derby’s new manager.

Rooney’s time in charge has been overshadowed by one failed takeover of the club, by Dubai-based Bin Zayed International, and another, led by Spanish agent Erik Alonso, which has been the subject of the EFL’s owners and directors test since early April.

Alonso has dismissed reports that he is planning to fund his bid by borrowing against the stadium, Pride Park, but sources told newsmen that there is scepticism among Derby’s owners that Alonso can complete a deal.

Categories
football Sports News

FANS BOO AS MILLWALL, DERBY BEND THE KNEE IN SUPPORT OF ANTI-RACISM MESSAGE.

Fans at Millwall’s home game against Derby booed when players took a knee before the game to support the league’s anti-racism message on Saturday.

It is the first time since March that the Den has hosted fans after crowds were banned as a precaution during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Derby forward Colin Kazim-Richards, who is Black, described the booing as an “absolute disgrace” in a tweet after the match where he expressed pride in taking a stand against racism.

“Having to say this is a pain,” Kazim-Richards said. “But I’ll say it every single damn time this is why I STAND and STAND PROUD and I have to say every single person involved with [Derby] did too.”

He added that it “made me proud to wear this shirt with the boys today!!!”

The English Football Association condemned the actions of the fans in a statement.

“The FA supports all players and staff that wish to take a stand against discrimination in a respectful manner, which includes taking of the knee, and strongly condemns the behaviours of any spectators that actively voice their opposition to such activities,” the statement said.

Some fans had called for the players not to take a knee before the game but Millwall had released a statement on Friday affirming their commitment to fighting racism.

As a squad we are fully supportive of the entire football family’s efforts in ridding the sport, and society generally, of all forms of discrimination,” the statement said.

“The gesture of taking the knee before matches provides an opportunity for us to do exactly that and continues to allow all those playing to publicly showcase their support — on behalf of the whole squad — for the fight against discrimination.

“We wish to make clear that taking the knee, for us, is in no way representative of any agreement with political messaging or ideology. It is purely about tackling discrimination, as has been the case throughout.

“We will continue to do this until the start of the New Year when a new and comprehensive anti-discrimination strategy will be announced by the club.”

Coronavirus regulations in England mean that only 2,000 local fans are allowed to attend games with no away fans permitted to travel.

Footballers in England have been taking a knee before games since football returned in June following protests in the United States over the death of George Floyd in police custody.

Categories
football Sports News

CHAMPIONSHIP SIDES IN RACE TO SIGN OUT OF FAVOUR LIVERPOOL MIDFIELDER.

Derby County and Swansea are leading the race to sign Harry Wilson on loan from Liverpool.

Liverpool want to send Wilson out on loan after they failed to sell him during the main transfer window and Swansea and Derby are among five clubs keen to sign him.

Wilson, 23, had a successful loan period with Derby two seasons ago when the Wales winger helped them reach the Championship play-off final.

Swansea are also showing strong interest and Liverpool have good relations with the Swans because of the progress Rhian Brewster made with them while on loan last season.

Liverpool and Wilson agree that he needs to leave Anfield to play regularly and he is not part of Jurgen Klopp’s first-team plans.

The Reds have a host of options in midfield with summer signing Thiago only adding to the competition.

While in attack Klopp has a fully functioning trio and added Diogo Jota from Wolves in the summer.

Wilson’s appearance in Liverpool’s Carabao Cup defeat to Arsenal was only his second for the Reds and his first since making his debut in an FA Cup tie against Plymouth in January 2017.

Wilson spent last season on loan at Bournemouth where he was one of their more impressive performers despite their relegation.

The Welshman was second in the Cherries’ goalscoring charts having notched seven times in 35 games.

Wilson has also had loan spells away at Crewe and Hull City earlier in his career.